Receptacle closure



June 11, 1935. G. F. JoNlTz 2,004,698

RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed June '7, 1934 Patented June 11, 1935 i UNITED STATES PATENT oEFl-CE A RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Georgina F. Jonitz, Washington, D. C.

Application June 7, 1934, Serial No. 729,510

`s claims. (el. 22e-47) The invention relates to improvements in receptacle closures and refers more particularly to closures for cartons of cardboard or similar materials suchV asare generally used for shipping purposes.

In containers of the character described the disadvantage is often observed that it is impossible to close the container again after it has once been opened and to keep it closed until ready for rurther use. Particularly if such containers or cartons contain food or food products which may be spoiledby the unrestricted admission of the atmosphere, or which may easily be spilled out of the carton by careless handling thereof, it'becomes desirable to provide means for closing the carton.

Various kinds of closing means have been designed to remedy the above-mentioned disadvantages and to improve the untidy appearance which cartons usually assume when once opened. However, all of the known devices are either too expensive in manufacture or too difficult in operation to be of real practical use. Y

The primary object is to provide a novel closure means or lock whereby the cover or lid of a carton or similar container may be releasably held in closed position after the container has been opened. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a closing means for receptacles Vas described which is of very simple and cheap construction, which is very simple in operation and ,which may either be sold by itself 'or readily applied in a container.

My invention -has for a still further object the provi'sionof containers of the general character described with novel closure means whereby the cover or lid will be heldin closed position during shipment and storing of the goods contained therein and wherein the usual closure means consisti'ng of paper wrapping or the likev is strengthened.

The objects of my invention are accomplished by the device described in the following speciiication and shown in the accompanying drawing in which:V

Fig. 1 shows a perspective View of a carton or similar receptacle having my novel closure means applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a rear viewof my device as applied to a carton.

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View on lines 3-3 of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a similar section' through a carton having an inner package for the goods and showing the position of the device during shipment.

Fig. 5 is a front view of my device before being applied to a carton.

Fig. 6 is another front View of my invention with its tapered end bent upwardly.

Fig. '7 is aside view of Fig. 6, and ""5 Fig. 8 is a section similar to the oneshown in Fig. 3 showing a modified way of applying the invention.

My invention is preferably formed of a single Y, layer strip or plate 2 of bendable but relatively 1i? stiff material such as sheet metal or the like, and preferably of wedge-like shape as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The upper edge of this strip or plate 2 is bent upon itself to form a 'an'ge-. Two p preferably horizontal slots 6 and 8 are provided 15` in the front wall 9 of the carton or box It); These slots are spaced from Veach other and are of such length as to conform to the wedge-like shape of the metal strip '2, the slot 6 thereof preferably being of greater length than slot v8.

After opening the ycarton Il) by inserting a knife vor similar cutting tool under its lid or cover I2 and cutting or tearing along the edges I4 and I or by otherwise lifting the lid from the carton Y so that it hinges along its rear edgel, the strip 25 2 is inserted vin slots' 6 and 8. Figs. 1 to 4 show my preferredway of applying the device by nserting the metal strip through slots 6 and 8 from the inside of the carton so that it rests against y its inner wall while Fig. 8 shows my device :in- 30 serted from the outside and resting against the outside of the front wall 9.

After inserting the strip 2 the lower part of the tapered portion 20 protruding fromslot 8 is n then bent upwardly so as to press against the 35 bridge 22 which comprises the portion of the carton between the slots 6 and 8. The bent over tapered portion 20 thus exerts a clamping action on the bridge 22 securely fastening the device to the carton.

In order to close the carton or box I0, the flange 4 is pulled or pressed away from the lid or cover I2. The front wall 9 is thereby bent outwardly and the lid is then pressed into closed position. When the drag or pressure on flanged is'released, 45 the natural resiliency of the material of which the carton or box is made, will tend'to straighten'the front wall 9 to take its original shape. The ange 4 will thereby overlap the lid I2 and hold it Vin locked position.

The opening and closing of a carton to which my new device has been applied may, however, also be achieved in other ways. After opening the box for the rst time and inserting the device, (ii the vsame has not already been provided 4stuis as are sold to housewives.

by the manufacturer), the front Wall 9 may for example be bent slightly outwardly. In order to open or close the carton, it will now only be necessary to grip and squeeze the two side walls of the carton adjacent the front wall 9 in the vicinity of the top portion, to lift or to close the lid I2 and to release the pressure on the side walls.

My invention may be sold to the public individually as shown in Fig. 5, or it may be applied to a carton v`during `the manufacture thereof as shown: for example kin Fig. 4, In the first mentioned form the device may be enclosed in the wrapper of a carton or may be removably attached to it in any other way, and a scoring may be provided in the front wall 9 at the-places 6y and 8. The consumer can then remove the device from its enclosure, open the lid of the'car-l ton, cut slots into the front Wall 9 Yat the places indicated by the scoring with a linger nail or with a sharp corner of the closing device, and insert the device in the mannerindicated in Fig. 3V or 8.

In the construction as shown in Fig. 4, the device is inserted in andiixed to a carton during the manufacture and before yshipment thereof., This figure shows a boxorV carton `I 0 containing goods 24 suchy as for examplefood,` products, said car ton being in unopened condition as usually sold to the consumer. The reference numeral `2(5represents abag-of wax or otheripaper for shielding the material from atmospheric influences. As also indicated in Fig. 4'it is oftenV customary to cover such cartons with a wrapper of paper or other. material 2,8 on Which`advertisingmatter may be printed or through which advertising matter on Ythe carton vmay berviewecl.A Fig. 4 shows this wrapper 28 as coveringV theportion 30 of the strip 2 thereby sealing the carton tightly at that point. However, the strip 2 obviously may also be inserted aftercovering the box with the wrapper. After opening the carton IB in the usual manner as already described, the strip 2 is bent backwardlyinto operative position so asto llie ilat againsty theinside of the front Wall 9with its flange 4..now extendingL over'the lid IZ as showninFig.3.rk f- I In the modification of the invention as shown in Fig. 8, the strip is applied to the outside of the carton. The wrapper 28 may either be placed on the carton I before inserting thestrip2 through the slots 6 and 8, or the strip 2 may be inserted first and later covered by vthewrapper 28. In apapplying this modification it is only necessary to bend the upperfportion of the strip 2 away from the cartonIIJ, to slit the box open along the edges I4 and` I6, and to bend the strip 2 back into its original position.

The advantage of the modification of my new invention as'shovvn` in Fig. 8,Iaside fromV its main purpose as described, residesin the fact that the strip may be inserted more easily into the carton and in that it serves to strengthen the closure of the lid I2 which is usually weakened by` scoring along the edges I4 Aand I6 for facilitating the Aopening of the carton.

Any of the'modications of my invention permit the hinged lid of a carton Vto be retained securely inposition when the carton is not in use. The invention is of advantage when applied to cartons' containing lfood products such 1 as flour, cereal, sugar, and the like, and pare ticularly when appliedto cartons for such food Because of the invention: accidental tippingor ,dropping of. the carton will not result in a spilling of the material from the-carton and consequent loss of such material. Moreover, the invention aids in protecting the material from atmospheric conditions and consequent spoiling.

As previously mentioned, the simplicity of the device renders its application an easy matter when sold separately from the carton. With simple directions printed on the carton even a child can insert the device properly. The device may, however, also be inserted by the food product company before shipment of Vcartons containing their products. 1

It will readily be seen from this vspecification and from the accompanying drawing that the device can be manufactured at a very low cost and can be applied to a carton in a very simple manner.

It will also be understood that my new device may be constructedv in any other form which pei'-,

forms the same mechanical functions as the device shown in the drawing and described in the specification-, i

Iclaim: .z

1. In combination with a carton or box, means secured to, one of the walls ofsaid carton at the inside thereof for releasably retaining. the lid of said carton in closed position after the orig# inal closure of. said carton has been opened, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stiff material, a tongue portion at one end of said strip, said carton having slots in one of its Walls, said tongue portion passing through said slots and being bent upwardly upon itself so as to clamp the wall of said carton between said slots, and securing saidl strip to` said -,wall, said strip being 4bent toward the inside of the carton when said carton is in originally-closed position, saidlidr when in opened position being hinged to said carton along one of its edges op.- posite said strip, a flange at the other end of said stripwhereby said'lid can be releasably secured to said carton after the original closure thereof has been opened and said strip hasV been bent so as to rest flatly against said'wall. f 2. In combination with a carton or box, means at the inside of said carton for releasably retaining the lid of said carton in closed position after the original closure of said carton has been opened, said means being secured to oneof the wallsof .said carton and comprising a strip of bendable, but, .relatively stiff material and a flange on'said strip for holding the lidin closed position. j

3. In combination with a carton or box, means at the inside lof vsaid carton for releasably retaining thelid of. saidV carton in closed position after the original closure of said ,carton has been opened, said means being securedfto one of the walls of said carton and comprising a strip of vbendable but relativelyv stiff material, a flange on said strip at one end `thereof for holding the lid in closed position, said carton having slots in spaced relation one above the other in one of its walls, said strip passing through said slots, a tongue at the other end of said strip and protruding from the lower slot, said tongue beingbent upon itself to clamp the portion of .said Wallbetween said slots so as to secure said strip in xed position to said Wall.

4. In combination with a cartonor box, means for retaining the lid of said carton in closed position, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stii material, said strip comprising a flatrbody portion, a angeat one end of said body portion and a tongue-like portion at the opposite end, said body portion `being of wedge-like shape, said carton having slots in spaced relation one above the other in one of its Walls, said strip passing through said slots, said slots being of such length as to conform to the wedge-like shape of said strip, said tongue-like portion protruding from the lower slot and being bent upon itself so as to press against the Wall of said carton and to retain said strip in fixed position in said slots, said ange when in operative position extending over the edge of said lid adjacent said wall for securing said lid in closed position.

5. In combination with a carton or box, means secured to one of the walls of said carton at the inside thereof for releasably retaining the lid of said carton in closed position after the original closure of said carton has been opened, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stiff material, said strip comprising a body portion and a flange at one end of said body portion for holding the lid in closed position, said body portion being of wedge-like shape, said carton having slots in spaced relation one above the other in one of its walls, said strip passing through said slots, said slots being of such length as to conform to the wedge-like shape of said strip, a tongue at the other end of said strip and protruding from the lower slot, said tongue being bent upon itself to clamp the portion of said Wall between said slots and to secure said strip in fixed position to said wall.

6. In combination with a carton or box, means for retaining the lid of said carton in closed position, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stiff material, a flange at one end of said strip and a tongue at the other end; said flange being adapted to strengthen the original closure of said carton and to retain the lid of said carton releasably in a closed position after said original closure has been opened, said carton having horizontal slots in spaced relation one above the other in one of its walls, the lower portion of said strip being of wedge-like shape and passing through said slots, said slots being of such size as to conform to the wedge-like shape of said lower portion, the upper portion of said strip resting against the outside of said Wall, said flange extending over the edge of said lid adjacent said wall, said tongue protruding from the lower slot and being bent upwardly so as to press against the outside of said wall and to secure the strip in xed position to said Wall.

7. In combination with a carton or box, having a flexible wall and a hinged lid, means secured.

to said wall for releasably retaining the lid in closed position, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stiff material and a flange on said strip, said ange normally extending over the edge of said lid adjacent said wall and being adapted to be withdrawn from said lid by bending said wall transversely With respect to said lid.

8. In combination with a carton or box having a exible wall and a hinged lid, means secured to said wall at the inside thereof for releasably retaining said lid in closed position after the original closure of said carton has been opened, said means comprising a strip of bendable but relatively stiff material, a flange at one end of said strip and a tongue at the other'end, said carton having slots in spaced relation one above the other in said Wall, said strip being of wedgelike shape and passing through said slots, said slots being of such a size as to conform to the f said lid adjacent said wall and being adapted to` be withdrawn from said lid by bending said wall transversely with respect to said lid for opening or closing the same.

GEORGINA F. JONITZ. 

